Because of Cirque Eloize’s circus style of putting emphasis on choreography, music, athleticism, and theatrics -- and the fact that there are no animals in the production -- people might think that Cirque Eloize is a copy of a similar French-Canadian circus -- Cirque du Soleil.

Actually, Cirque Éloize, which is visiting the Merriam Theatre in Philadelphia through Dec. 30 as part of the Kimmel Center’s “Broadway Series,” came first. It was formed in 1993 in Quebec by Jeannot Pinchaud.

In May 2010, Cirque Éloize announced the signing of a strategic partnership with Cirque du Soleil. The “family connection” between the two cirques has had many positive results -- even down to the casting of shows. The production that is playing Philadelphia -- “iD” -- has a feature dancer who came from Cirque du Soleil -- in a roundabout way

“I’ve been with Cirque Éloize since February,” said dancer Nadia Lumley, during a phone interview last week. “A little while before that, I was contacted by Cirque du Soleil for my act. But, I was unavailable at that time because I was in a stunt show in Abu Dhabi.

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“I became available in January and notified Cirque du Soleil. They put me in touch with Cirque Éloize and the casting director contacted me. I had heard of the company and had previously worked with two of the people in the cast of ‘iD.’ The show itself had already been running since 2009.”

The spectacular stage show transports the audience into the action-filled streets the heart of a big city. The stage comes alive with the high energy of acrobats, break dancers, contortionists and a fearless stunt biker. They perform backed by a kaleidoscope of video projections drawn from science-fiction films, comic books and graffiti.

The production is a blend of urban dance (featuring Lumley and several other dancers) and 12 different circus arts, including juggling, contortion, in-line skating, stilts, Cyr wheel, hand balancing, straps, bike trial, Chinese pole, aerial silks and the trampowall.

“There are four of us who specialize in B-boying and break dancing,” said Lumley. “We’re like the cheerleaders of the group. The circus is the heart of the show but I’m also onstage most of the time. I’m the only female break dancer in the show and there are three male dancers. And, our contortionist is a technically trained ballet dancer.”

Lumley, a native of Kent, England, received her Bachelor of Arts from Great Britain’s University of Warwick in Coventry and has performed at the United Kingdom’s National Theatre.

“I was training in theater and acting,” said Lumley. “At the University of Warwick, it was either cheerleading or break dancing for physical activity. I chose break dancing and had a great teacher named Ill Boogs.

“After I got my degree, I went to drama auditions and then got hired by Upswing Aerial, a circus company from England. I did a bungee aerial dance piece. That was the first circus company I worked for and I also learned hoop and tissue with them. After that, I went more back to dance theater.”

Now, Lumley is working for a circus -- as a dancer.

“Obviously, ‘iD’ is mostly circus but the dancers add a lot,” said Lumley. “Our roots are in urban culture and we give a lot of energy. The music is one of the best parts of the show. It’s funky -- and it gets everyone moving.”